VASA mRNA (DDX4) detection is more specific than immunohistochemistry using poly- or monoclonal antibodies for germ cells in the male urogenital tract.

ABSTRACT: VASA, also known as DDX4, is reported to be specifically expressed in cells belonging to the germ cell lineage, both in males and females. Therefore, it could be an informative protein biomarker to be applied on semen to differentiate between obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia (OA and NOA, respectively). In addition, it could be of value to predict sperm retrieval based on testicular sperm extraction. Immunocytochemistry of proven OA semen using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against VASA showed positive staining of both cells and cell sized particles. This is spite of being the absolute negative controls, completely lacking germ lineage derived cells and material. In order to identify the source of the VASA-positive material, a detailed screen of different anatomical pa

SUBMITTER: Boellaard WPA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5627816 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature